A review of farmed salmon welfare in 2026, covering sea lice management, pre-harvest welfare, crowding stress, cleaner fish welfare, and progress in welfare certification and technology.
Key Facts
Sea lice resistance to chemical treatments continued to worsen in 2026
Mechanical lice treatments with improved welfare protocols expanded
Pre-slaughter crowding and CO2 stunning practices varied significantly between farms
Cleaner fish welfare protocols improved but welfare in practice remained inconsistent
Norwegian salmon welfare regulations strengthened with new monitoring requirements
Welfare Considerations
Farmed salmon welfare in 2026 shows genuine progress in monitoring technology and regulatory requirements, alongside persistent challenges from sea lice management and pre-harvest welfare. The scale of salmon farming means even incremental welfare improvements affect millions of sentient animals.
What You Can Do
Choose ASC-certified salmon from farms with documented welfare commitments
Support research organisations advancing salmon welfare science
Advocate for stronger regulatory requirements for pre-slaughter salmon welfare